BEER is a rich source of a nutrient that can help prevent weak bones â€“ but it depends what type you drink. As one of the nation's favourite tipples, dietary silicon in beer can help cut the chance of developing diseases such as osteoporosis, researchers say.

However, health experts are warning against using beer as a source of the nutrient. And not all beers are the same, with those containing malted barley and hops having higher silicon content than beers made from wheat. According to the study from researchers at the University of California, beer was a major source of dietary silicon â€“ roughly half of the silicon in beer can be readily absorbed by the body.